Bryson and Phil

Watched videos of Bryson DeChambeau golfing with Phil Mickelson, and later actor Chriss Pratt. While the videos were playing I was working on my laptop and phone, so I was not paying much attention to it.

I like Mickelson less and less myself. The show had Phil and Bryson playing 18 holes together. Bryson tries to make connversation but Phil kept speaking in technical golf terms and was not very entertaining. Phil did speak of the first time they played together, and what he had learned from young Bryson. Then near the end Phil asked how it was that Bryson got the idea to make these videos (it was during covid). Then Phil complimented Bryson for all his success with the videos.

Every time they’d hit a shot and get in the golf cart, Phil would pull out these cherry performance things to chew on. He’s offer one to Bryson. It was like a commercial, the way kept talking about those cherry things. Pretty annoying. Then late in the round Phil asked Bryson what he ate during the round. Bryson pulled out a bag with almonds and energy bars and other items. Byson admitted he hadn’t eaten anything from this bag. He’d been too busy talking for the video – and eating all the cherry things that Phil kept giving him.

After those videos ended, a video came on with Bryson playing with Sergio Garcia. Sergio isn’t one of my favorites either. Bryson hit a long drive and they were looking for his ball. They looked and looked and Sergio finally found it – he had accidentally stepped on Bryson’s ball, which had landed with a thud and buried itself. That’s when I went to bed.

Thursday: worked until six. Ceil hadn’t cooked so I warmed up M’s leftover pizza. Later M cooked up a fine batch of cheese grits with real bacon and sausage, with the bacon grease mixed in for flavor. Good stuff. Went to bed at 1030 last night – and slept all the way through until my alarm went off at 530. A rarity. Then went back to bed for another hour.

Last Saturday I got a cric in my neck, which hasn’t really improved. Used it as an excuse to skip the gym, but I need to hit it hard next week, with the Peachtree Road Race coming up.

Took Leo and Angie out in the plant today to watch our new slitter. The pit is over 30 feet deep.

Also met the new scheduler Carlos – who now has the same office that was my office back in the mid-1990’s. Still has the big chalkboard on the wall, that I used to map out my plans to buy tickets to the 1996 Olympics. That was my office back when I left work on a January Friday, drove straight down to SPdL when Lang was the youth director. Rode all night down to Orlando. Disney on Saturday. EPCOT on Super Bowl Sunday. Then back on the bus to ride back to SPdL on Monday morning. Got back in my car and drove to work. Went up to my office, closed the door – and took a nap.

For lunch today I used my $10 gift card at Wendy’s. Got a single burger, crispy chicken sandwich, and a large Frosty. Good stuff.

Yesterday Will & Thomas played golf near China Beach, just south of the Golden Gate Bridge. Then they went to the Giants game,

Evidently the latest wedding trend is for couples to get married in – wait for it – a church. Of all the places. A&C and M will be attending as well. C is helping with the flowers.

A good article about Johnson Ferry’s fine pastor, Clay Smith. His career, and the transition from Bryant Wright to Clay.

BOB GIBSON  [SABR Bio] was the first National League pitcher with 3000 strikeouts. His 3,000th victim was Cesar Geronimo in the 4th inning on 17-Jul-1974. Gibson career number trailed only Walter Johnson’s 3,509. Gibson retired with 3,117, 16th on the career K list. He was the first black player inducted into the Hall of Fame who had never played in the Negro Leagues. His preparation for the majors came largely from playing for Creighton University in his hometown of Omaha. Gibson played with the Harlem Globetrotters briefly in 1957.

Kicker U

UGA has commitments from both the top high school kicker in the country, as well as the top punter.

My friend Preston’s youngest daughter goes to Marist. She’s a pole vaulter. This summer she’s traveling around the country attending track meets. Her goal is to vault for an Ivy League school, perhaps Yale or Dartmouth.

We had a nice dinner at the Cho’s house. Korean BBQ. Preston even had Korean beer. A wonderful time. Didn’t get home until 10:30.

What was your opinion of the parade celebrating the Army’s 250th birthday? Isn’t it the job of the Army to travel out of town, to stay in not great lodging, to wake up early, and then to spend hours waiting to leap into action? Apparently some people don’t understand that. Marching in the parade was probably a nice break from day after day of hard training. It’s nice to be recognized sometimes, instead of vilified.

Were you watching when Caitlin got mauled? Seems to be a daily occurrence. Lebron was given grief when he praised Caitlin for a recent big game, but did not praise Angel for her triple double. Speaking of Lebron, he recently hinted at retirement. Knowing Lebron, he will play a final year so he can go around to be honored in every city – a big farewell tour. You heard it here first.

Monday: worked past 6 pm. C warmed up leftover spaghetti.

Tuesday AM: current email count: 43. Thursday midday: 45. I’m training Leo. He sat we with me yesterday and we got a lot done. He was showing off his Bob's Burger's apron.

WILLIE MAYS [SABR Bio] played every inning of 13 All-Star games, in 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959¹, 1959², 1961¹, 1961², 1962¹, 1962², 1964, 1965, 1966, & 1968, He was the first player with back-to-back 30/30 seasons, in 1956 (36;40) and 1957 (35;38). In ten seasons he had more than 100 RBI yet never led the league. With 1,909 career RBI, Mays ranks 12th all-time.

Modern Worship music has entered a dangerous drift into progressive praise. Give me some of that old time religion.

Scientists Detect Unusual Airborne Toxin in the United States for the First Time.

Denison: how Iran is currently threatening American citizens.

Denison: the latest on the Iranian conflict.

Denison on why Iran is the world’s most dangerous regime: Iran’s Shiite theocrats believe they are leading a revolution to export radicalized Islam in preparation for the coming of the Mahdi. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard claims the “Jewish state will be destroyed before Mahdi’s arrival.” Some see Russia’s war against Ukraine as a prelude to the “reappearance of the Mahdi. Sharia law permits lying to non-Muslims to advance Islam. Israel views Iran’s nuclear ambitions as a threat to their survival, and negotiations as a ploy to buy time until Iran can create weapons with which to destroy the Jewish state.

Oppressed Iranian citizens in Iran cheer when Israeli bombs strike Iranian targets.

Remembering Snowmaggedon

Snowmageddon, back about ten years ago. I was at work at the office over in Duluth. The "snow" (actually ice) was coming in from the west, so all the employees who lived east of the plant were safe. Me and others left out around 12:30 pm in our cars. I went my regular route: south on Peachtree Industrial, west on Spaulding, west on Holcomb Bridge. Thought I better stop for gas so I wouldn't run out sitting in traffic, which was just creeping along. Hours past. Had the radio on AM750 WSB. Texts were flying back and forth from coworkers about whether the routes they had chosen were paying off. Tim was north of me on Old Milton Parkway. I turned left on Eves Road, but the hill down to the river was impassable. Had to turn around and go back to Holcomb Bridge. This was where coworker Ellsworth had stopped at Kroger – where he wound up spending the night.

I knew I'd be in trouble if the next left turn didn't work out. Otherwise it was uphill for a mile to HB and GA400, which was gridlocked. But my left into Martins Landing took me over to Riverside and Azelia, which was flat. Made decent time across Roswell Road over west of the Roswell Square. From there the rest of the way was up and down one big hill to another, so I parked my car at a little shopping center. Put on every garment that I had in the car. Changed from dress shoes into sneakers and set out on foot. Up and down one big hill to the halfway point: the Stinky Kroger. Stopped in there to warm up, then went out and walked the rest of the way. Only fell once, on my street walking down a hill. Turned my body so I wouldn't land on my briefcase, which held my computer. Arrived home at 830 pm, an 8 hour commute. Walked the last 3 miles.

According to my list, I have read 39 of Grisham's books, more than Reid's 32.

Jim Ewing caught a big fish. His son George posted the photo on social media.

JJ won the US Open. The question of the day was who is your favorite person who goes by their initials? I said record-setting Georgia Tech placekicker E.O. Whealler, who has an amazing story. Even profiled in Sports Illustrated back in the day. I've written about old E.O. before.

Jason Day was wearing some cool dude Air Jordan looking hightops at the US Open, perhaps made by Malbon, a company that M is familiar with. Malbon also makes adidas Stan Smith golf shoes.

For Father's Day, Ceil gave me a sheet of the new Hank Aaron stamps. I'll probably use them when I mail things. Maybe Christmas cards.

Saw a cool old Cadillac convertible in the parking lot: Ole Blue.

Scientists detect mysterious radio waves coming from beneath Antarctica ice.

FRANK HOWARD [SABR Bio] said "The distance of every tape-measure home run depends upon your press agent." Some of the longer ones he hit at RFK were measurable & remained visibly marked for years. Howard was the NL ROY in 1960 with the Dodgers and ranked 4th & 5th in 1969 & 1970 in AL MVP voting, behind winners Harmon Killebrew & Boog Powell. Howard's first round-tripper was off future Hall of Famer Robin Roberts on 10-Sep-1958, that year's NL WAR leader with 6.3. Other hurlers headed for Cooperstown who surrendered HRs to Howard were Warren Spahn, Juan Marichal, Bob Gibson, Gaylord Perry, Hoyt Wilhelm, Whitey Ford, Jim Palmer, Catfish Hunter, and Jim Kaat.

Noted U.S. players who also played in Japan…

Warren Cromartie MON....1984-90 Yomiuri Giants

Willie Davis...........LAD.....1977.......Chunichi Dragons

Larry Doby............CLE.....1962.......Chunichi Dragons

Cecil Fielder..........DET....1989.......Hanshin Tigers

Frank Howard LAD/WSA 1974........Taiheiyo Club Lions

Don Newcombe... BRO....1962.......Chunichi Dragons

Joe Pepitone.......  NYY....1973.......Yakult Atoms

Zoilo Versalles.......MIN....1972.......Hiroshima Toyo Carp

Braves 5 Mets 4

Rain put a damper on the Braves game. I had checked the forecast: no rain. Got to the ballpark and was close to the front of the line, after making good time on 285 from work. On the walk up to the stadium I searched for Maggy, the offspring of the Ponce de Leon Park magnolia that had been planted outside Truist Park. Maggy wasn’t where it had been planted – instead it looked like a bunch of new bushed had just been planted in Maggy’s place. No wonder the Braves are losing.

At 515 the forecast called for rain after six. Ugh. 

Gates opened and I made a beeline for Blooper’s new Clubhouse, out in the new kid’s area.

Then back to line up for the pregame parade. We marched downstairs underneath the stadium to the walkway out near the right field foul pole. That’s when the rain hit. We were marched back upstairs.

I collected the season ticket gifts for the GM: two limited edition golden Chipper Jones bobbleheads, and two All Star game ticket paperweights. The GM has been displaying his bobbleheads in his office, but was surprised this morning when he gifted me one of the gold bobbles.

With the downpour, fans were milling about on the crowded mezzanine. I retraced my steps to get the designated driver Coke. Since there was little to do, I signed up for a free Chevrolet Braves Country t-shirt. Eventually made my way upstairs to my seat. As I had while waiting for the gates to open, I busied myself going through emails and social media.

Blooper was out in the rain hitting whiffleballs – righthanded. Then he threw a few balls – righthanded. In previous years he’d carried a huge lefthanded mascot glove. Do we have a new Blooper? Or perhaps this was an understudy Blooper?

Got to see Schwellenbach go through his warmups. His long march in from the bullpen with catcher Sean Murphy, Eddie Perez, and the pitching coach – trading fistbumps with the relievers headed out to the pen. An above average rendition of the national anthem, while Braves players joined Kids Club members to line the baselines. Finally the game started at 8:10.

Soto slugged a first inning home run to deep right center. Acuna walked to lead off the bottom of the first. Acuna’s stats are vastly superior to Soto. Acuna’s long run to catch a blooper down the right field line was right in front of me. Some said he got a poor jump, as if they could’ve done better. Ronald went all out in an effort to make the catch. He limped back to his position, and I worried he might’ve reinjured himself. Later Acuna made a tremendous leaping catch, then doubled the runner off first base.

Down 4-1 the Braves rallied in the bottom of the 8th. Ozuna’s based-loaded double tied the game, and Riley’s long fly to the right centerfield fence drove in the winning run from third. A nice way to lead off the series. The long walk back to my car was much cooler than my pregame walk.

The Braves have a new contest, asking for bobblehead suggestions for next year. Winner receives Lexus Level season tickets. Doubtful that my Bobby Dews bobblehead suggestion will win.

NEWS: I bought my ticket to the All Star Futures Game on July 12, with the opening act being the Celebrity All Star Game. Bunch of young hip hoppers will be playing, along with Olympian Jenny Finch and, for some reason, CC Sabathia. You’d think Fox announcer John Smoltz would play, or Dale Murphy or Chipper. I’ll have to keep score of both games, in case some minor leaguer turns out to be a star. I think last year Drake Baldwin played.Since I am volunteering at the All Star FanFest, I should be able to park for free.

Denison: how Iran is currently threatening American citizens.

Notes: When Times Are Tough

Bryan Hansen 

JFBC Global Ministry

Psalm 34:1-10

1 Samuel 4:21 David flees to the city of Gaff, Goliath's hometown. He is brought before the king. David acts insane, and is able to flee this city. He writes Psalm 34 to express his thankfulness.

Followers of Jesus are able to respond differently when times are tough. How? In three ways...

1. v 1-3 We bless the Lord Psalm 104, Neh 1:5. With praise, blessing the Lord at all times, boasting in the Lord. Let the humble hear. Submitting to God. Exalting his name. Magnifying the Lord so others can hear. v 3 Do these things together 

 

Hebrews 10:24-25 as fellow believers we need one another. Share highs and lows. Praise God together. As the church, we are not just bringing ourselves together to praise God, we are also bringing our praise to God together.

 

2. v 4-6 We Seek the Lord, and He answered me. When we seek the Lord, we find Him. He answers us and delivered us from our fear. We may pray for healing or wisdom but worry what will happen if things don't work out. But God gets to the root of what we need. Unanswered prayer does not mean the need is not met.

 

v 5 David got out of Gaff and was not ashamed that he lost his dignity while doing so, by acting crazy

 

Isaiah 55:8-9 my thoughts are not your thoughts... v 6-7 seek the Lord while He may be found...he's talking to the wicked and unrighteous so God may work in their lives. God says come to me, seek after me. God answering our prayers results in fearing the Lord, having awe and reverence for the Lord.

 

3. v 7-10 We fear God...those who fear God have no lack. 

 

v 8 taste and see that the Lord is good. Fearing the Lord results in answered prayers. God provides. Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him. Be careful to not be a scairdycat. 

 

John 15:7 if you abide / remain in God and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. Because your desires are God's desires. What gives us this ability? Jesus died on the cross on our behalf. Jesus paid the price, for us. 

 

The Lectio Divina method of Bible Study

Dan Rice

JFBC Sunday School

1. reading slowly attentively & several times. What words and phrases stand out, and why?

2. meditation: reflect on the things that stood out - why do they stand out? How is God using these verses to speak to me?

3. prayer: write a response to God: praise, gratitude, reflection, thanksgiving.

4. contemplation: be quiet, taking in God's presence. Listen for God's spirit to speak to me.

5. What from this passage do you carry with you this week?

2 Cor 4:16-18

1. The light momentary affliction is preparing us for eternal glory. We look not to the seen, but to the unseen. The seen is temporary, the unseen is eternal - completely the opposite of the way the world currently operates.

2. So many around me are reacting to what they see.

3. Lord help me focus on the eternal, not all these things of the world. Prepare me to be with you in future glory. While I long to be in heaven, how does current suffering prepare me for the future?

Romans 8:17-18 Suffering expands our capacity for glory. Suffering reorients us to prepare for glory. Makes us love what glory is - being in the presence of God. Blessed are those who mourn. Suffering is an investment. Not suffering for doing wrong, but suffering for doing right. God only gives us good gifts. 

2 Cor 1: the afflictions we suffered in Asia...